Beyond tribal instincts

Kasturi Ray's biography of President Droupadi Murmu is an exploration into her childhood, her deep inner sorrow, and the impact of her cultural upbringing, which values generosity, on her life

Droupadi Murmu: From Tribal Hinterlands to Raisina Hill

Author: Kasturi Ray

Publisher: Rupa Publications

Pages: 242

Price: Rs. 595

Droupadi Murmu’s election as the President of India is, without doubt, the coming of age of India’s democracy. It was a Western diplomat, who presented his credentials to her, who described her presidency the best. He said: “Amid the panoply of Indian grandeur that the Rashtrapati Bhavan represents, there sat this diminutive woman in her simple sari, sitting absolutely still like a bird in this huge red chair, watching everything with bright eyes, never once fazed by what was going on around her. When you